The Graffiti Machine

Our goal is to uplift the graffiti culture by sharing personal development information from a graffiti writer’s perspective; improve the culture by helping writers improve themselves.

148: Energy Theft 03/05/2025

148: Energy Theft Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about energy management—specifically, what feeds our energy and what drains it. How many times have you had a bad interaction with someone, only to stew over it for hours, days, or even longer? Social media makes this even worse. One negative post can trigger a response, leading to a back-and-forth spiral that eats up time and energy. But here’s the question: How much energy is being wasted in those moments? And more importantly—how could that energy be used to build something better? If this resonates, take a hard look at the people, habits, and environments in your life. What’s fueling you? What’s draining you? Then ask yourself: What could I create if I redirected that energy? This podcast is available on all your favorite audio platforms and on YouTube: /episode/index/show/graffitimachine/id/35550525

147: What's it going to take? 02/21/2025

147: What's it going to take? I read the quote ‘What’s it going to take?’ in the book Market Outrageously. It was talking about actually looking deep at a goal and trying to get to the bottom of what it would take to accomplish. Even seemingly impossible goals are worth trying to break down. In my life and business, I have goals that are overwhelming to think about. When I read this part of the book, I was inspired to actually dig into it much further. Things start seeming much more achievable once you start breaking it down into smaller chunks. Ask yourself this question about a goal you have, then sit down and try to figure out what steps you need to take to make it happen. There is a lot of clarity that can be achieved with this. /episode/index/show/graffitimachine/id/35372960

146: This Is Where Most People Quit 02/07/2025

146: This Is Where Most People Quit I heard Alex Hormozi say this, and it stuck with me. When things get hard, most people give up. The idea of consistently getting better in all areas of life is not the norm in society. And in some ways, that’s fine—if you’re happy with where you’re at. But the way I see it, most people aren’t happy with staying the same. We want something more for our lives, but pushing ourselves into discomfort is hard. The truth is, doing the hard things is what’s required to make our lives better. Where in your life do you feel like quitting—but know you need to keep pushing? /episode/index/show/graffitimachine/id/35197755

145: The Mental Weight of Procrastination 01/30/2025

145: The Mental Weight of Procrastination We all have those small tasks we avoid—paperwork piling up, a cluttered office, or something simple that feels like a hassle. For me, those things build up in my mind and start to weigh on me. But when I finally take care of them, there’s always a sense of relief. Research shows that unfinished tasks, or "open loops," take up mental space and increase stress. The more we avoid them, the more they quietly drain our energy. Tackling them right away frees up that mental clutter and makes life feel lighter. Stop waiting. Do it now. It’s worth it. /episode/index/show/graffitimachine/id/35084730

144: The Craftsman Mindset – A Better Way to Work 01/24/2025

144: The Craftsman Mindset – A Better Way to Work In this episode, we explore the Craftsman Mindset from Cal Newport's So Good They Can't Ignore You. This idea flips the script on "following your passion" and emphasizes mastering skills as the key to meaningful work. I share a powerful dream that confirmed my dedication to my path, reflect on the challenges of entrepreneurship, and discuss how honing skills—like marketing and leadership—has brought meaning to my work. We also touch on examples like Steve Jobs and finding fulfillment in any job through mastery. If you’re questioning your path or looking for more purpose in your work, this episode is for you. /episode/index/show/graffitimachine/id/34995650

114: 10 Years of Machine 01/17/2025

114: 10 Years of Machine January of 2025 marks 10 years of the current version of Machine—I say current only because I started Machine in 2002 as a motion graphics business then transitioned into what we have now in 2015. It’s been quite a ride so far, but it still feels like we haven’t even started yet. In 2015, it was mainly a one man show. I lived in the back of the shop with my four dogs. No heat, air, hot water, kitchen, shower, or any of the creature comforts we’re used to. I cooked on a hot plate and showered at the YMCA. I was all in on the vision, but it wasn’t a clear vision at all. I just wanted to do something positive for the graff culture by opening a place for writers to gather, blackbook, attend art shows, etc. Over time, it developed into what you see now. Lots of ups and downs and a huge amount of great memories. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this. Team members, customers, supporters, collaborators, everyone. We have a long way to go. — Bus P.S. Rest in peace Kub, Herbie, Hooper, and Shortie. I think about you all the time. /episode/index/show/graffitimachine/id/34897715

143 - The Rebuild 01/01/2025

143 - The Rebuild With the new year and new goals, I thought about the habits that changed my life for the better and put them together as a program. It’s 8 weeks of the following daily habits: • 10 Minutes of Meditation • 10 Pages of Reading • 30 Minutes of Exercise • Stick to a Diet • Do the Power List This episode goes into some detail as to why these habits, but most should be pretty obvious. If you want to read more about it, you can visit the website below. If you do the program, please let me know how it went! /episode/index/show/graffitimachine/id/34685520

142 - Generate Momentum 12/03/2024

142 - Generate Momentum When I'm having trouble creating, I use this technique and it works every time. Just start. Sometimes you’ll have to force yourself to do it—make anything without worry, just to get moving forward. The longer you go, the more momentum you build. Every now and then, you’ll discover something that feeds the fire. Keep exploring, keep making. Eventually, it’ll feel like it’s flowing on its own. From there, all you have to do is maintain it. /episode/index/show/graffitimachine/id/34275230

141 - The Law of Rhythm 11/08/2024

141 - The Law of Rhythm The law of rhythm reveals that life’s cycles—whether good or bad—are part of a natural, repeating flow. With this perspective, we can find comfort in the lows, knowing they’ll rise, and prepare in the highs, knowing they’ll shift. It’s a tool for staying steady, patient, and focused through every phase. /episode/index/show/graffitimachine/id/33842522

140 - It'll Never Be Easier 10/31/2024

140 - It'll Never Be Easier Think it was easier when you were younger? Yeah, maybe. But here’s the shift: it’s never going to be easier than it is right now. Whether you’re 20, 51, or somewhere in between, today is your best shot to make a move. In this episode, I dig into a perspective that hit me recently and has kept me motivated—whatever it is you’re aiming for, don’t wait around. Start building those habits, set the foundation, and don’t let the moment slip. It’s only getting tougher from here, so jump on it. /episode/index/show/graffitimachine/id/33658927

139 - Make the Work the Goal 10/18/2024

139 - Make the Work the Goal I've been thinking about big goals. They often take a long time and you can work day in and day out, but it takes time to see results. It can be discouraging. Say you want to lose 20 lbs, you may not start seeing results for weeks. One way to stay on track is to make the work the goal. Deep down, we usually know what we need to do to get there. Instead of focusing on the end goal, it might be helpful to focus on the daily work instead. You can become the person that does the work necessary today—doing that will get you to the person you want to be. /episode/index/show/graffitimachine/id/33520112

138 - Detach 10/05/2024

138 - Detach It can easy to get overwhelmed with the details of a situation and find ourselves a bit stuck. Sometimes we have a very narrow view when focusing on specifics that we fail to see the big picture. One of the lessons I've learned from Jocko Willink is to take a minute to detach from the details and take a wider view. This will often reveal things that you weren't seeing and help you find a way forward. /episode/index/show/graffitimachine/id/33341252

137 - Good 09/27/2024

137 - Good Jocko Willink has this thing where he says "good" when presented with any issue. It's about finding the good in every situation. It can seem nearly impossible at times, especially when the situation is really bad. However, it's often possible to find some kind of positive outcome in most things. At the very least, you can find growth in adversity. I find that when I'm extra stressed out, taking a minute to be grateful for the adversity really takes the edge off. /episode/index/show/graffitimachine/id/33227502

136 - Nothing Lasts 09/20/2024

136 - Nothing Lasts It may sound negative to think about things being temporary, but I find it makes me appreciate things much more. If our pets, loved ones, belongings, our lives were not temporary, it would be easy to be complacent. Let's get the most out of the time we have. You can also check out this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/O5LC97BZNwU /episode/index/show/graffitimachine/id/33146797

135 - Why not you? 09/06/2024

135 - Why not you? In the age of social media and endless highlight reels we have access to, it's easy to think, "I wish I had that" or "I wish I could do that," etc. From a lecture by Jim Rohn, he asked a very powerful question, "Why not you?" Think about it. Why can't you have those things? Why can't you do those things? If someone else was able to achieve it, you might be able to as well. You have the capacity to drastically change your life if you're willing to put in the effort. /episode/index/show/graffitimachine/id/32946207

134 - Effort Over Outcome 08/30/2024

134 - Effort Over Outcome This episode dives into the concept of doing the work for its own sake, drawing inspiration from Steven Pressfield's The War of Art. It emphasizes the importance of showing up every day and committing fully to the task at hand, regardless of the outcome. Whether it's sweeping floors, building a business, or pursuing personal growth, the focus is on consistent effort and mindfulness. By detaching from results, one can stay grounded, avoid burnout, and eventually reach meaningful achievements—sometimes even beyond the original goals. It’s about putting in the work, day in and day out, and embracing the journey. /episode/index/show/graffitimachine/id/32803817

133 - Resolve 08/23/2024

133 - Resolve I got the guy's name wrong in the video, it's Jim Rohn. I saw a clip of his video that talked about resolve defined as keeping the promise to yourself to never quit. It got me thinking about a bunch of different things along these lines. /episode/index/show/graffitimachine/id/32707097

132 - Earn Your Keep 08/19/2024

132 - Earn Your Keep Running a graffiti supply business, I frequently get asked for free products in exchange for exposure. The problem? 99.9% of the time, the person asking hasn’t put in the work to make the exchange mutually beneficial. They haven’t built a following substantial enough to make a real impact. The lesson here is clear: opportunities like this exist, but they require effort before the deal makes sense. There are no free rides in this world, and those unwilling to put in the work upfront will miss out on the opportunities available to those who do. You can also watch this episode on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@busmsk /episode/index/show/graffitimachine/id/32646137

131 - Scarcity Mindset 08/02/2024

131 - Scarcity Mindset If hearing about other people's wins makes us feel bad about our own position, it could be a sign of a scarcity mindset. There seems to be something in us that, when we see others winning, we feel like it may take away from us. This mindset may be a remnant from early human days when resources were harder to come by. Nowadays, there's enough to go around, and someone else's win doesn't mean we're going to lose. Additionally, hating on someone for winning might put the energy out there that we don't like winning. Even if it's directed at someone else, it may be hindering our progress. What's the answer? It's tough to say, but I've been making a conscious effort to keep an eye on this. You can also check out this podcast on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@busmsk /episode/index/show/graffitimachine/id/32393202

130 - Never Give Up? 07/19/2024

130 - Never Give Up? Most have probably seen that illustration of the guy walking away from digging, with diamonds just inches away. He gave up just before hitting it big. The idea of pushing forward versus quitting can be complicated. "Never give up" is not a be-all-end-all. There could easily be another version of this illustration showing miles of rock with no diamonds at all. He could dig for the rest of his life and never accomplish anything. Maybe the idea of never quitting is more about not giving up on something you believe in just because it's hard. Even then, you could decide to never quit and dig the wrong hole forever. How do we know when to keep going or quit? This podcast is also available on YouTube /episode/index/show/graffitimachine/id/32208857

129 - Low Frequency Moments 07/11/2024

129 - Low Frequency Moments Sometimes, it may feel like the way we feel at any given time defines who we are. Statements like "I'm an anxious person" or "I'm a stressed-out guy" do not capture our whole reality. Instead of thinking of ourselves as these things, we should realize that they are just moments. We are not inherently anxious or stressed-out people; we experience anxiety and stress, as well as other low-frequency states. Remember that we also exist in high-frequency states, like happiness. This podcast is also on YouTube if you're interested in checking that out. https://www.youtube.com/@busmsk /episode/index/show/graffitimachine/id/32090472

128 - One more shot! 06/20/2024

128 - One more shot! Sometimes it takes just one more effort for everything to change. Many people have experienced struggles, only to have one moment, meeting, phone call, or social media post transform their lives. With this in mind, the more attempts you make, the greater your chances for success. It might be the thousandth try that succeeds, but it took the 999 failures or misses to get there. These episodes along with other content are now on YouTube if you want to check out video versions. https://www.youtube.com/@busmsk /episode/index/show/graffitimachine/id/31818067

127: Massive Action 06/14/2024

127: Massive Action I've been super stressed out over the last month or so. Business is weird and there are a great deal more complexities than I'm used to. This started to lead to a bit of paralysis on my part. I was working all day, but not really getting much done. There are certain things I've known I need to be doing, but haven't been doing them due to overthinking. Today, I just started taking aggressive action on those things. The more I did, the more momentum I built up. The more momentum I built, the lower my stress levels became. My mind cleared and the path forward was revealed. Shit's still crazy, but as of right now, I know what I need to do. Every day, stay focused and continue to take massive action and I will win. The actions are different for everyone, but starting and being aggressive about moving forward will generate the momentum you need to clear the path. If you want to see the video version of this show, it's now on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@busmsk /episode/index/show/graffitimachine/id/31742062

126 - Addictive Thought Patterns 06/08/2024

126 - Addictive Thought Patterns I've been thinking about how our thought patterns can become addicting. Just like a thermostat keeps your house at a set temperature, your brain can maintain a baseline of negative thoughts if that's what it's used to. Can we reprogram our brains for positive thinking? I believe so. Negative thoughts release chemicals like adrenaline and cortisol, which can be addicting. So why not create the habit of thinking positive? It's easier said than done, but it's definitely doable. Link to the breathing exercise I mentioned: This podcast is now in video format as well. Check out the YouTube channel if you'd be interested in that. /episode/index/show/graffitimachine/id/31662037

125: I Might Be Wrong 05/30/2024

125: I Might Be Wrong An interesting section of the book How to Win Friends and Influence People discusses the value of being comfortable with the possibility of being wrong. Even if you 'know' you're right, starting a sentence with "I may be wrong, but this is how I see it" seems to be a much better way to have a conversation. I put 'know' in quotes because even if you feel very strongly about being right, it's hard to really know for sure. One thing that comes to mind is the viral photo of a dress that circulated some years back. You may have seen it. It's a striped dress that stirred up a lot of arguments because people were roughly divided in half on what colors the stripes were: black and blue, or white and gold? There are other examples of these visual and auditory phenomena where two people can see and hear completely different things. Can't the same be said about our perception of information we receive? It's possible for two people to perceive the same information in completely different ways, so it's hard to definitively say who is right. Being okay with being wrong demonstrates humility and—in my opinion—can turn many conversations into learning opportunities rather than arguments. This is a little longer than usual, but I wanted to end this with a quote from Socrates “All I Know Is That I Know Nothing” -- These podcasts (starting with this episode) also now have video. If you want to check out the episodes with video, check them out on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@busmsk /episode/index/show/graffitimachine/id/31537402

124: Should we add graffiti interviews? 05/24/2024

124: Should we add graffiti interviews? I'm going to start doing interviews with graffiti writers and have a question for you. Would you like to see/hear this kind of content on this show, or would you prefer it just stays the way it is? Right now, what I'm thinking is, I'll start releasing two episodes per week. One personal development style like we've been doing, and one graffiti interview style episode. Would love your feedback. Feel free to reach out to me on Instagram @bus166, or if you're seeing this on YouTube, feel free to leave a comment with your thoughts. I appreciate all of your support over the years and am trying to find ways to make this project better than ever. /episode/index/show/graffitimachine/id/31459127

123: Focus 05/23/2024

123: Focus There's a part of your brain called the reticular activating system (RAS). It acts as a sort of filter. If you think about something a lot, the RAS will show you more of it. For example, if you want to buy a certain car, you might start seeing that car everywhere. If you regularly think negative thoughts, your RAS may reveal more negativity that you might not have noticed otherwise. On the other hand, thinking more positive thoughts, like the goals you want to accomplish, can program your RAS to help reveal steps and ideas to move you toward those goals. What are you programming your reticular activating system to show you? /episode/index/show/graffitimachine/id/31438202

122 Done is Better Than Perfect 05/16/2024

122 Done is Better Than Perfect It's easy to put so much pressure on ourselves when trying to get something perfect. Sometimes the desire to get something exactly right can lead to not finishing at all. Sometimes striving for finished is better than striving for perfection. Don't half-ass it, but get it done. /episode/index/show/graffitimachine/id/31338292

121 - Darkness Flees From Light 05/09/2024

121 - Darkness Flees From Light If we want things to get better, whether that is in our community, family, or even the world, it starts with improving ourselves. It may not seem like making ourselves better will help anything, but you never know who's watching. No matter who you are, it's likely that you improving yourself will influence another to do the same. That person improving can influence others. Who knows what kind of chain reaction that can cause? /episode/index/show/graffitimachine/id/31207287

120 - Master the Mundane 04/25/2024

120 - Master the Mundane How to you treat the mundane tasks in your life? It's often easy to half-ass the basic tasks that seem meaningless, but how does that look to those around you? How does it look to your own subconscious? There are lots of phrases that talk about this kind of thing. How you do one thing is how you do everything comes to mind. If we half-ass one thing because we think it isn't important, we're probably coming up short in other areas. Life is full of mundane tasks. Doing them well raises our standards and influences all aspects of life. /episode/index/show/graffitimachine/id/30991938

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